THE HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1696, 12 March 1913, Page 2

THE HEALTH OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) i Christchurch, March 11. A conference, of delegates • representing various branches of tho Society for the Health of-Women •■anil-Children opened in the City Council Chambers this morning. Mrs. W. W. Morton (president of the Canterbury branch) presided. Dr. Valintiue (Chief Health Officer), Dr. Trußy. King (president of''the society for New Zealand), and Mr, J. D. Hall were also present. Mi's. Morton, in opening tho meeting, said that sho was >glad to .welcome ..so many delegates of branches' that had not hitherto existed. "Wo" are; to bo 'con,grritulated," she said, "upon tho way in which our work has extended during tho past year, and upon the way it is going to bo extended during tho coming year. Only when in the midst'of tho work do w'o realise how important and! far-reath-ing it is. It is hygiene of home and laying the foundations of- what wo liopo to be a well-nurtured and stron°;ly-constitu-tioned race. Our uurse3 spend more time in preaching fresh air and cleanliness ; than in attending sick children, for what we chiefly have to contend against is bad habits and unhealthy surroundings. Our nurses are working overtime every day in the week. Our nurses have to be strong women with plenty of tact, and women who can manage to do a hard day's work."

Dr. Yalintine' 6aid lie wished to apologise for the absence of the Hon. E. H. Rhodes (Minister for Publio Health). The Minister had been anxious to be present, • as he had,been associated with the society since its inception. He was much in sympathy with the. work undertaken, and as Minister for Public Health would further the interests of the society as far as lay in his power. Tho first business was tho reading ofthe proposed rules, which were adopted. A clause, suggesting co-operation with the constituted authorities for the safeguarding of waifs and strays caused some discussion. 1 Dr. Yalintine said that there wero in Christchurch some twenty or more philanthropic societies who were acting on a philanthropic basis for- the benefit- of various classes of persons. There was absolutely no co-operation of work between them. This not only applied to Christchurch, but also to other centres. There was therefore great waste of effort. These societies should meet together during the year and review their work and see how far overlapping existed. In Wellington good results had been achieved by tho adoption of that course. Mrs. Morton said that-a conference was held in Christchurch every - three months of Canterbury societies, and it was called "Tho ICnow Your Own City" Conference. Delegates from every women's society were present, and the work was discussed. Mrs. Wilson gave details of the work achieved by this conference. One of the first questions, they were taking up m co-operation was control of 'feeble-minded girls, and they 'hoped to bo more of a force in the land than they were at present. Dr. King said that in Dunedin they had carefully investigated the question of overlapping, especially in regard to the work of district nurses and Plunket nurses. They had both been working for five years. It had been proved, however, 'that their ministrations ■ were in absolutely different spheres. He believed that there should be co-operation between different societies.

Mrs. T. E. Taylor referred to the work of tlio C'reche and Kindergarten Association. Tliev proposed to establish a muni-cipal'creche,-Tint that could only be done successfully with the co-operation of all societies -who were interested in the work. It would help a great deal if the Plunket nurses conkl lecture to meetings of mothers in connection with the association. Mrs. Morton said that the society would be glad to send nujses to such meetings. The conference then decided: "That an effort he made to extend and co-ordinate the principle of quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly conferences with representatives 'of various humanitarian and philanthropic societies with a view to co-opera-tion" , The conference will resume to-morrow.